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Three out of five schools in London hit by strike | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Schools, colleges and universities across London have been hit by a one-day strike in protest at cuts to teachers' and lecturers' pensions. | Schools, colleges and universities across London have been hit by a one-day strike in protest at cuts to teachers' and lecturers' pensions. |
Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and University and College Union (UCU) marched through the capital and protested outside the Department for Education. | Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and University and College Union (UCU) marched through the capital and protested outside the Department for Education. |
The education department says three in five London schools have been affected. | |
Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: "Strikes benefit no one." | |
Figures from the Department for Education show that a fifth of schools have been completely closed, two in five faced the cancellation of some lessons and two in five schools were fully open. | |
The figures had been gathered from 33 boroughs across London. | |
The UCU says 46 colleges and 16 universities have been affected by the walk-out. | |
The NUT says the action has been well supported, but its impact will vary from borough to borough. | |
The teachers' union says it has more than 55,000 members across London's 2,500 schools. | |
Pensions battle | |
Parents across the capital had been told by head teachers about plans to close or reduce lessons during the one-day walkout. | Parents across the capital had been told by head teachers about plans to close or reduce lessons during the one-day walkout. |
In some schools this has meant that younger pupils are at home while lessons continue for older year groups with approaching exams and tests. | In some schools this has meant that younger pupils are at home while lessons continue for older year groups with approaching exams and tests. |
Christine Blower, the NUT's general secretary, said the proposed increase in pension contributions represented an extra tax on teachers - which she contrasted with the cut in the top rate of income tax for the highest earners. | Christine Blower, the NUT's general secretary, said the proposed increase in pension contributions represented an extra tax on teachers - which she contrasted with the cut in the top rate of income tax for the highest earners. |
"Teachers cannot be expected to do anything other than defend the right to a pension which they have paid into in good faith, and which the government has shown no evidence that they are either unsustainable or unaffordable," said Ms Blower. | "Teachers cannot be expected to do anything other than defend the right to a pension which they have paid into in good faith, and which the government has shown no evidence that they are either unsustainable or unaffordable," said Ms Blower. |
"It is the government's intransigence and total disregard of the facts that has forced teachers to continue with this action." | "It is the government's intransigence and total disregard of the facts that has forced teachers to continue with this action." |
Sally Hunt, leader of the UCU lecturers' union, said that her members were "unlikely militants" who took no pleasure in striking. | Sally Hunt, leader of the UCU lecturers' union, said that her members were "unlikely militants" who took no pleasure in striking. |
"However, it is not fair for ordinary people to suffer huge cuts in their standards of living at a time when the government is handing out huge tax giveaways to big business and high earners." | "However, it is not fair for ordinary people to suffer huge cuts in their standards of living at a time when the government is handing out huge tax giveaways to big business and high earners." |
The one-day action in London follows a national strike over the pension changes staged by education staff last November, which closed a majority of schools. | The one-day action in London follows a national strike over the pension changes staged by education staff last November, which closed a majority of schools. |
Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: "This deal is as good as it gets and takes the right balance - guaranteeing teachers one of the best pensions available, but keeping a lid on rising costs for the taxpayer. | Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: "This deal is as good as it gets and takes the right balance - guaranteeing teachers one of the best pensions available, but keeping a lid on rising costs for the taxpayer. |
"We've been in serious talks for months with unions to address their concerns and reach a final settlement. This strike, ordered by the NUT's leaders, will not now get its members any further forward. | "We've been in serious talks for months with unions to address their concerns and reach a final settlement. This strike, ordered by the NUT's leaders, will not now get its members any further forward. |
"Reforms to public sector pensions are essential - the status quo is not an option. The cost to the taxpayer of teacher pensions is already forecast to double from £5bn in 2006 to £10bn in 2016, and will carry on rising rapidly as life expectancy continues to rocket." | "Reforms to public sector pensions are essential - the status quo is not an option. The cost to the taxpayer of teacher pensions is already forecast to double from £5bn in 2006 to £10bn in 2016, and will carry on rising rapidly as life expectancy continues to rocket." |
The action by the NUT and UCU unions has been timed to coincide with protests by other public sector unions over pensions. | The action by the NUT and UCU unions has been timed to coincide with protests by other public sector unions over pensions. |
Unite said thousands of its NHS members who had rejected the pension changes would stage demonstrations outside hundreds of hospitals and clinics across the UK as part of a campaign set to continue into the summer. | Unite said thousands of its NHS members who had rejected the pension changes would stage demonstrations outside hundreds of hospitals and clinics across the UK as part of a campaign set to continue into the summer. |